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Significance and Strengthening Private Sector Engagement in the Management of Public Protected Areas: Experiences from Malawi

Received: 31 January 2017    Accepted: 16 February 2017    Published: 13 April 2017
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Abstract

This paper presents the significance and strategies to strengthen private sector engagement in the management of public protected areas in Malawi. The study emanates from desk reviews of various relevant documents, stakeholder consultations and Malawi national Community Based Natural Resources Management forum discussions. In addition, focus group discussions with selected local communities surrounding conservation areas were conducted. Data analysis was conducted through content analysis and critical discourse analysis. Promotion of environmental education in protected areas, involvement of local communities in managing natural resources, Infrastructure development and conducting research studies on and in protected areas were found to be significant roles of private sector involvement in public protected areas. Unfavorable economic climate, weak regulation enforcement, poor monitoring mechanism of the activities undertaken by concessioners in managing the protected areas and poor dispute settlement mechanisms were seen to be the challenges. Lastly, enabling policy environment, long term tenure security, clear rights and responsibilities and selection of concessionaires by tender were found to be strategies for enhancing private sector participation in managing protected areas. A follow-up study should be conducted quantitatively in order to provide empirical evidence on the role and ways of strengthening private sector participation.

Published in International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management (Volume 2, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170203.11
Page(s) 47-52
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Private Sector, Participation, Natural Resources Management, Protected Areas

References
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[2] Huntjens, L., Lebel, L., Pahl-Wostl, C., Camkin, J., Schulze, R. and Kranz, N. (2012). Institutional design propositions for the governance of adaptation to climate change in the water sector. Global Environmental Change 22 (2012) pp 67–81.
[3] Cinner, J. E., Basurto, X., Fidelman, P., Kuange, J., Lahari, R. and Mukminin, A. (2011). Institutional designs of customary fisheries management arrangement in Indonesia. Papua New Guinea and Mexico.
[4] COMPASS (2005). Decentralisation and forestry. A review of progress, challenges and opportunities for CBNRM in the forestry sector. Occasional paper 8.Community Partnerships for Sustainable Resource Management.
[5] Eliasi B, Aubin S, Sunga I (2009). Enhancing smallholder farmers policy engagement through greater involvement of farmer organisations in policy processes.’ Paper presented at the IDASA Economic governance programme conference on ‘Governance and small scale agriculture in Southern Africa’. Available at http://www.sacau.org/hosting/sacau/SacauWeb.nsf/Paper_IDASA%2.Accessed on 24/08/2015.
[6] Mack, N., Woodsong, C. Macqueen, K. Guest Greg and Namey E. (2005). Qualitative Research Methods: A data collector’s Field Guide. Family Health International
[7] Government of Malawi (2001). National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy. Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs. Department of Fisheries. Lilongwe. Malawi.
[8] Government of Malawi. (2009). The Malawi Growth and Development Strategy. From poverty to prosperity, 2006 to 2009.Revised Edition. Ministry of Economic Planning and Development. Lilongwe. Malawi.
[9] Government of Malawi. (2011). Malawi Agricultural Sector Wide Approach. A prioritised and harmonised Agricultural Development Agenda: 2011-2015. Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. Lilongwe. Malawi.
[10] Saporiti, N. (2004) Managing National Parks. Public Sector Policy for the Private Sector.http://rru.worldbank.org/PublicPolicyJournal.
[11] Mauambeta, D. (2003). Private Investments to Support Protected Areas: Experiences from Malawi. Vth World Parks Congress: Sustainable Finance Stream, Durban, South Africa.
[12] Maumbeta, D and Kafakoma, R. (2010). Study Report on CBNRM Stocktaking in Malawi. Coordinating Unit for the Rehabilitation of the Environment, Blantyre, Malawi.
[13] Government of Malawi (2011a). Malawi Growth and Development Strategy. Lilongwe, Malawi.
[14] Government of Malawi (2001). National Forestry Programme. Priorities for Improving Forestry and Livelihoods.Department of Forestry. Ministry of Forestry, Natural Resources and Environment. Lilongwe, Malawi.
[15] Government of Malawi (2011). Public Private Partnership Policy and Act.The Secretariat, Public Private Partnership Commissions, Lilongwe, Malawi.
[16] Kaarhus, R and Nyirenda, R. (2006). Decentralisation in the agricultural sector in Malawi. Policies, processes and community linkages. Noragric Report No. 32.Norwegian University of Life Sciences. Norway.
[17] Kaarhus, R., Jorgensen, I., Kamoto, J., Mumba, R., Sikwese, M., and Ferrar, S., (2003). Nkhalango.A Social Forestry Model. Experiences from Blantyre City Fuelwood Project in Southern Malawi.Agricultural University of Norway.
[18] Maumbeta, D., Chitedze, D. and Mumba, R. (2010). Status of forests and tree management in Malawi. A position paper prepared for the coordination union for rehabilitation of the environment (cure).
[19] Wilson and Morgan (2003) Agreement between the Government of Malawi (Ministry Of Tourism, Parks and Wildlife) and African Parks Management and Finance Company (PTY) Limited and the African Parks (Majete) Limited concerning the Management of Majete Wildlife Reserve. Blantyre, Malawi.
[20] Mapila, M. and Haankuku, C. (2009). To march or not to march? Understanding the potential role of lobbying in positively influencing agricultural policy outcomes for Smallholder Farmers in developing countries. Afr. Growth Agenda, January-March: pp. 10-12.
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  • APA Style

    Njera D., Kafakoma R. (2017). Significance and Strengthening Private Sector Engagement in the Management of Public Protected Areas: Experiences from Malawi. International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, 2(3), 47-52. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170203.11

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    ACS Style

    Njera D.; Kafakoma R. Significance and Strengthening Private Sector Engagement in the Management of Public Protected Areas: Experiences from Malawi. Int. J. Nat. Resour. Ecol. Manag. 2017, 2(3), 47-52. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170203.11

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    AMA Style

    Njera D., Kafakoma R. Significance and Strengthening Private Sector Engagement in the Management of Public Protected Areas: Experiences from Malawi. Int J Nat Resour Ecol Manag. 2017;2(3):47-52. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170203.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170203.11,
      author = {Njera D. and Kafakoma R.},
      title = {Significance and Strengthening Private Sector Engagement in the Management of Public Protected Areas: Experiences from Malawi},
      journal = {International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management},
      volume = {2},
      number = {3},
      pages = {47-52},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170203.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170203.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijnrem.20170203.11},
      abstract = {This paper presents the significance and strategies to strengthen private sector engagement in the management of public protected areas in Malawi. The study emanates from desk reviews of various relevant documents, stakeholder consultations and Malawi national Community Based Natural Resources Management forum discussions. In addition, focus group discussions with selected local communities surrounding conservation areas were conducted. Data analysis was conducted through content analysis and critical discourse analysis. Promotion of environmental education in protected areas, involvement of local communities in managing natural resources, Infrastructure development and conducting research studies on and in protected areas were found to be significant roles of private sector involvement in public protected areas. Unfavorable economic climate, weak regulation enforcement, poor monitoring mechanism of the activities undertaken by concessioners in managing the protected areas and poor dispute settlement mechanisms were seen to be the challenges. Lastly, enabling policy environment, long term tenure security, clear rights and responsibilities and selection of concessionaires by tender were found to be strategies for enhancing private sector participation in managing protected areas. A follow-up study should be conducted quantitatively in order to provide empirical evidence on the role and ways of strengthening private sector participation.},
     year = {2017}
    }
    

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    AU  - Njera D.
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    AB  - This paper presents the significance and strategies to strengthen private sector engagement in the management of public protected areas in Malawi. The study emanates from desk reviews of various relevant documents, stakeholder consultations and Malawi national Community Based Natural Resources Management forum discussions. In addition, focus group discussions with selected local communities surrounding conservation areas were conducted. Data analysis was conducted through content analysis and critical discourse analysis. Promotion of environmental education in protected areas, involvement of local communities in managing natural resources, Infrastructure development and conducting research studies on and in protected areas were found to be significant roles of private sector involvement in public protected areas. Unfavorable economic climate, weak regulation enforcement, poor monitoring mechanism of the activities undertaken by concessioners in managing the protected areas and poor dispute settlement mechanisms were seen to be the challenges. Lastly, enabling policy environment, long term tenure security, clear rights and responsibilities and selection of concessionaires by tender were found to be strategies for enhancing private sector participation in managing protected areas. A follow-up study should be conducted quantitatively in order to provide empirical evidence on the role and ways of strengthening private sector participation.
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Author Information
  • Department of Forestry, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Mzuzu University, Mzuzu City, Malawi

  • Training Support for Partners, Lilongwe City, Malawi

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